Barium nitrate

Manufacture, occurrence, and reactions

Barium nitrate is manufactured by two processes that start with the main source material for barium, the carbonate. The first involves dissolving barium carbonate in nitric acid, allowing any iron impurities to precipitate, then filtered, evaporated, and crystallized. The second requires combining barium sulfide with nitric acid.

It occurs naturally as the very rare mineral nitrobarite.

At elevated temperatures, barium nitrate decomposes to barium oxide: :

Applications

Barium nitrate is used in the production of BaO-containing materials. It is also used in the vacuum tube industry.

Military

Although no longer produced, Baratol is an explosive composed of barium nitrate, TNT and binder; the high density of barium nitrate results in baratol being quite dense as well. Barium nitrate mixed with aluminium powder is a sometimes-used formula for flash powder, and is highly explosive.

It is mixed with thermite to form Thermate-TH3, used in military thermite grenades. Barium nitrate was also a primary ingredient in the "SR 365" incendiary charge used by the British in the De Wilde incendiary ammunition with which they armed their interceptor fighters, such as the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, during the Battle of Britain.

Safety

Like all soluble barium compounds, barium nitrate is toxic by ingestion or inhalation.

Solutions of sulfate salts such as Epsom salts or sodium sulfate may be given as first aid for barium poisoning, as they precipitate the barium as the insoluble (and non-toxic) barium sulfate.

Inhalation may also cause irritation to the respiratory tract and baritosis.

While skin or eye contact is less harmful than ingestion or inhalation, it can still result in irritation, itching, redness, and pain.

References

References

1. (June 18, 2018). "CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics". CRC Press.
2. {{Sigma-Aldrich
3. (18 December 2025). "Barium Nitrate (White Crystalline Powder/Certified ACS), Fisher Chemical 500 g {{!}} Fisher Scientific". ThermoFisher Scientific.
4. {{IDLH. 7440393. Barium (soluble compounds, as Ba)
5. Kresse, Robert. (2007). "Barium and Barium Compounds".
6. "Nitrobarite". Mindat.
7. (21 March 2011). "List of Minerals".
8. Williams, Anthony G. (2004). "THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: ARMAMENT OF THE COMPETING FIGHTERS". Crowood Press.